In light of the BLM protests occurring across the world, it would be highly appropriate for UCL to rename their buildings named after racists and eugenicists. These include the Galton Lecture Theatre (named after the eugenicist and racist Francis Galton),  Petrie Museum (named after the eugenicist, racist and friend of Galton and Pearson, Flinders Petrie) and the Pearson Building and Lecture Theatre (named after the eugenicist, racist and antisemite Karl Pearson). A quick Google search will bring up information on each individual's support and involvement in eugenics and belief in racial inferiority science.

UCL posted a statement in support of the BLM movement but you cannot claim to believe black lives matter while continuing to allow the existence of infrastructure named after racists and eugenicists. Furthermore the recently published Enquiry into the History of Eugenics at UCL recommended that UCL change the names of a number of things named after eugenicists.

 UCL offers the tour Bricks and Mortals exposing the university's eugenics history and the university stated in February that it would look at changing the names of the lecture theatres but no action has yet been taken. 

NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE THIS ACTION!

There is incredibly poor diversity amongst staff despite the university being in one of the most diverse cities in the world and in the historically progressive location of Bloomsbury. This is not an issue that can be fixed overnight but changing the name of buildings can be done quickly and will be a positive step in the right direction for a university with a terrible history of celebrating its racist forefathers.  

LINKS;

Eugenics report -

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/provost/sites/provost/files/ucl_history_of_eugenics_inquiry_report.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0HeYxkkjZp29Xye4FC3iLqRLL61Y84sqqGvsECYFH8E-FvBYYZ4M5IU3s 

Bricks and Mortals - 

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/projects/bricks-mortals

Articles on UCL stating it would change names; 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/13/ucl-inquiry-row-historical-racism-science-pioneers-rename-college-buildings​

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/28/ucl-rename-two-buildings-address-historic-links-eugenics/#:~:text=UCL%20to%20rename%20two%20buildings%20to%20'address'%20historic%20links%20with%20eugenics,-The%20Galton%20Lecture&text=University%20College%20London%20(UCL)%20plans,with%20eugenics%2C%20it%20has%20announced​

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/eugenics-university-college-london-ucl-secret-conference-francis-galton-a9365036.html